Discover Texas: culturally rich and diverse cities

It’s true: Everything is bigger in Texas. From portion sizes, pickup trucks, and 10-gallon hats to the thousands of kilometers of rugged, gorgeous terrain. This state encompasses such a wide swath of human experience that exploring all of its nooks and crannies would take months — maybe years.

Travel Texas

View more

Texas is so big and diverse that it’s practically its own country. It was, in fact, a nation of its own from 1836 to 1845. The Texas landscape ranges from desert badlands and swimmable coastlines to lush mountains and sprawling prairies. Its communities go from the heights of urban sophistication (and size!) on down to the tiniest, most charming out-of-the-way towns.

There is surely no shortage of Country culture here: rodeos, line-dancing and ample opportunities for an adventure by horse or mule. And then there’s the barbecue. It’s hard to find a better place on this planet for a plate of ribs or brisket (served with a heaping helping of Texas home-style side dishes). The legendary Franklin Barbecue in Austin can boast all-day waits—and it is worth it.

History buffs can travel far and wide across the Lone Star State to learn about its rich cultural legacy. San Antonio is home to the Alamo, a centuries-old Spanish mission and the site of a long, bloody battle in the early 1800s. Frontier Texas!, a bold museum in Abilene, introduces visitors to the “Wild, Wild West” using life-sized holograms. Of course, Texas is also host to its share of arts and cultural sophistication, from the glossy urban landscapes in Dallas and Houston to the freewheeling funk of Austin. The latter city is something of an island in the Texas Hill Country—a wild, liberal city where you can expect the unexpected.

Texas Quirk

In addition to cowboys and sprawling cities, Texas is home to some quirky attractions and spots. From Cadillac Ranch, which boasts a sculpture made of ten Cadillacs as a monument to the "Golden Age" of the American automobile to the Lajitas Ghost Town, which has a beer-drinking goat for mayor. In Paris, Texas, you’ll even find an Eiffel Tower topped with a cowboy hat.

A $60 million trove of gold plundered by Coronado is believed to be buried on an 80-acre pasture near Clyde, Texas.

Must see places

Padre Islands National Seashore

Windswept dunes waving with coastal grasses set the scene on this barrier island that runs 182 kilometers along the Gulf of Mexico coast. The gentle surf makes this a prime spot for swimming or saltwater fishing, and you just might get lucky and spot one of the island’s white-tailed deer or jackrabbits.

Learn more

San Antonio River Walk

This bustling walk lives up to its name, running so close to the gentle San Antonio River you feel you could step right into it. The walk is filled with restaurants offering festive outdoor eating, music, shops, festivals and shows. You’ll want to see every kilometer.

Learn more

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

This honey-colored ridge formed 250 million years ago and is actually a rare fossil reef. Explore its remote beauty through backcountry camping and hiking or get out your binoculars, as the birding is great here.

Learn more

The Alamo

Site of the famous battle of the Texas Revolution and the most visited landmark in Texas, the mission and its grounds are accessible through multiple tours, and interactive exhibits and history talks get guests up to speed on what “Remember the Alamo” means to Texans.

Learn more

Space Center Houston

The out-of-this-world educational complex explores the space flight program through ever-changing exhibits, 400 artifacts (including the world’s largest collection of lunar rocks) and exceptional tours, such as Level 9, which takes you behind-the-scenes of NASA.

Learn more

The Sixth Floor Museum of Dealey Plaza

An engaging series of exhibits, talks and programs retrace Former U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s life and legacy in this museum located on the sixth and seventh floors of the old Texas School Book Depository Building.

Learn more

Dallas Museum of Art

Known for its forward-thinking educational programs, talks and exhibition policy, DMA boasts an impressive collection of over 24,000 works of art, among them a vast collection of Contemporary works and a substantial Decorative Arts and Design collection.